It is never easy to start something new – to flounder in the unknown and the uncertainty of the future. Obstacles are imagined and magnified in the mind. The end goal seems far and unattainable. There are moments when you wish to give up, to change the path you have chosen (or has been chosen for you). And yet you plod on, taking one day at a time.
I reflect on September last year and the beginning of the new school year. Teaching a combined class of grade 1s and 2s was a challenge I had not yet experienced. The grade 2 curriculum was unknown to me; and I had worked through the grade 1 expectations two years previously. I was willing to take on the challenge and began the year with enthusiasm. There were times, though, when I felt overwhelmed and when I questioned my offer to take on the challenge. I have spent many hours after school and over weekends planning my activities, creating the games and worksheets to offer the children I teach. Now in the last months of the school year, I feel more confident and at ease with working in a combined class.
Difficult became easy. The unknown became known. Next year I will be teaching the grade 1s and 2s again – and the second time around it will be easier. I will improve on what I have done this year; changing what didn’t work and extending the activities that did. In addition, I will have two other teachers working with a grade 1/2 combined class. I will guide them through their experience so that their expectations of an difficult experience will change to that of an easy task. And hopefully, with collaboration, I will improve the aspects of my programme that did not address certain ccurriculum expectations in a creative way.
Which of your experiences have changed from difficult to easy?
© Colline Kook-Chun, 2016
(This post was inspired by the Five Minute Friday prompt: easy)
I guess setting up a blog comes readily to mind Colline but it’s not the same kind of achievement. A challenge at the time but what fun since then x
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I agree Jo. Blogging was one difficult that I was glad to experience. As always, though, I did read books before I ventured into it. The academic in me, I guess 🙂
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I’m glad that your teaching year has gone so successfully! It’s interesting how, when we embrace challenges, we can learn and grow so much as we navigate through them.
Blogging (especially managing my time so I can even write) is a huge challenge for me, but I enjoy learning.
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I believe that the effort we put in helps with what we get out of it. Flexibilty and the willingness to learn has helped a lot.
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I thought that making sure to read my declarations daily would be difficult. However, it seems that my commitment is stronger than the difficulty and once the practice set in, I look forward to reinforcing the changes to my thought process. The whole “difficulty” thing for me is in the consistency to acquire new tools and perspectives.
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You have made a good point – consistency and routine is what can help make something difficult easier than expected. I tell my students that everyday when I encouraged them to practise their reading.
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I’m pleased that you are now feeling more comfortable with your combined year level class. You will be a wonderful mentor for the other teachers taking on the role next year. Will you be keeping your year one students?
One year, a long time ago, I taught a year one class. I took them on to year two and had some year ones added to the group. The following year I took them on to year two and three. So the first group I taught for three years and the second group for two. It was the most amazing teaching experience I have had. We were able to develop a very close relationship and a lot of each school year that is usually spent getting to know each other could be spent focusing on learning. I loved it.
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I am considering it. I have already decided I will keep one of my students as he has difficulty responding to other educators in the school. I am hoping that I can have some of the children I taight in kindergarten with me next year.
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Good luck with your decision making, and your class.
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Thank you Norah. When the time is right, I will have a discussion with my principal to get her advice as she knows the children as well and what would benefit them.
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